http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/081206-staff-statewvyouthactionleagu...

West Virginia Youth Action League Gathers to Build Youth Power

This weekend the West Virginia Youth Action League (WV-YAL) will host a gathering in Huntington at Marshall University. The WV Youth Action League is a student and youth network coming together to create social change within our communities. We are building connections between organizations that are focused on building a sustainable and just economy with green jobs and clean air, land, and water, that transition our society away from dirty energy as well as social and environmental injustice. This is our second meeting and will see the WV-YAL expand into working for justice with new student organizations.

"The student and youth voice in state affairs becomes much louder and more powerful when we combine forces," said Trevor Swan of Charleston, "these presentations, trainings, and opportunities to network are a big part of that." The activities of the weekend will include presentations on various local health and social issues, as well as workshops on effective organizing and networking techniques. Later in the weekend, the group will focus on statewide organizing and working together on specific campaigns, such as supporting the development of thousands of green jobs through clean energy and actively opposing dirty energy. We will also be how to support legislation that moves our state towards having clean energy, water, and land in every community. This network also serves as an open forum for idea and resource sharing, such as member schools that are organizing to develop green jobs through becoming more energy efficient and recycling.

You are the backbone of SEAC.

You are the reason that we're growing quicker than we have in years. You are the reason that we are establishing new programs, training new youth leaders, and winning new victories. You are SEAC.

You have put hours and hours and hours into your SEAC organizing and it is paying off.

Now, we will raise more than $3,500 in one week; from October 6th to October 10th. We have a large donor who knows the importance of our organizing and has committed up to $1,000 in matching funds. So, for every dollar we raise up to $1,000, they will donated a matching dollar amount. See, $1,000 = $2,000.

We can do this, with your participation. This is the biggest single grassroots fundraising drive SEAC has operated in the past 5 years. We need to do this not only to bring in funding for the rapid organizing that we're doing, but to deepen our relationships with SEAC alums, supporters, and members all across this country.

This is our opportunity to grow our Grassroots Fundraising so we can have an authentically Grassroots Organization.

This Wednesday, Oct. 1st at 7:00 PM - we will be previewing the fundraising drive, how it will operate, and MOST IMPORTANTLY we will be going over the easy ways that you can be a part of this drive.

People are most likely to give when we are asked by our friends and family - we will be going over the clear ways you can be involved in growing SEAC's donor base.

Wednesday, Oct. 1st
7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST

Call In Number: (605) 990-0111
Passcode: 354056#

Be a Part of Growing SEAC through this Fundraising Drive.

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Fundraising Email
For mass distribution to list-servs, facebook groups, all contacts that you have

Hello,

September 23, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Danny Chiotos
Student Environmental Action Coalition: KY/WV Youth Organizer
304-886-3389
Danny@seac.org

West Virginia Youth Action League Will Push for Green Jobs Now

Charleston, WV - Calling for a transition to a clean energy economy that will create millions of new jobs and pathways out of poverty, the WV Youth Action League (WV-YAL) will participate in the "Green Jobs Now" National Day of action on Saturday, September 27. This is a follow up to the historic Coal River Wind Rally on Tuesday, September 16th and will continue our focus on creating good green jobs in WV where they're needed the most. WV-YAL is organizing four different events in Huntington, Charleston, Glenville, and Morgantown, WV. These events are being organized by young people standing for a Green Economy and those attending will be urged to take photos and video, while also signing the "Green Jobs, I'm Ready" petition. While we know the coal is currently an important part of WV's economy, we are supporting responsible mining that gives the most jobs with a speedy end to mountaintop removal as we quickly transition to a Green Economy. These events are urging our elected officials to invest in millions of green jobs and a Clean Energy Corps to repower America.

WHO: West Virginia Youth Action League

WHAT: "Green Jobs Now" National Day of Action

More than 150 people came out from the Coal River Valley, Charleston Area, and many many areas of WV to support a SHIFT to a healthy & green economy. SEACers were a great part of this historic event that is pushing for a postive vision of a WV with both Mountains and Jobs.

Check out the great media:

EndMTR Blog

WCHS 58

Free Speech Radio News

WSAZ

WV Metro News (with a quote from the SEAC KY/WV Organizer Danny Chiotos!)

WHSV

Ivan Stiefel was SEAC's WV Organizer during his role in the 2007 Mountain Justice Spring Break. For all of us that know him & know the extraordinary work he's done in building grassroots youth power - we know he deserves this award!

Go Ivan Go!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sharon Smith
September 11, 2008 415-788-3666 x144
sharonsmith@earthisland.org

Six Young Environmental Leaders Honored with Prestigious Brower Youth Award

Annual Green Prize Recognizes Outstanding Efforts to Protect the Planet

San Francisco, CA—A teenage Latina student in Chicago battling industrial polluters, a recent college graduate working to halt the devastation of mountaintop coal mining, and a young woman restoring a migratory bird corridor in Costa Rica were among the newly announced winners of the 2008 Brower Youth Awards, the premier environmental youth prize in North America.

A selection panel of environmental leaders, including Majora Carter, Bill McKibben, Barbara Brower, and Kevin Danaher, selected six youth from among 122 applicants for the 2008 Brower Youth Awards. “David Brower was one of my great heroes, and the winners of the Youth Award named in his honor are his real heirs,” said author and climate change activist Bil McKibben. “I’ve known many – and they’re changing the world.”

We have seen unprecedented support for the Wind Power, Green Jobs, and Underground Mining Jobs that are threatened by Mountaintop Removal. I am damn proud to be a part of this historic effort and to stand with all of you.

Since the launch of the Coal River Wind Campaign in August, more than 8,500 of you have shown your support. Since the alert went out earlier this week that Massey Energy is moving blasting rigs onto Coal River Mountain, more than 2,500 letters have been sent to WV Governor Manchin demanding that he hold Massey accountable. We have never before seen such grassroots support for a concrete & positive alternative to Mountaintop Removal, but the amazing showing we've had so far is not enough.

Massey Energy did not blast on Coal River Mountain yesterday because they did not have the necessary permits from the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). They've since gotten these permits. The very thought that Massey is looking to blast dangerously close to an underground mine makes me sick. It confirms every thought I have ever had that Don Blankenship (Massey's head) has as little concern for mine workers as he does the communities around the mines that he operates. Although there are other permits that Massey still needs to get from government agencies - we still have time to stop their machines from taking the green jobs & wind power that we're pushing so hard for.

Governor Joe Manchin still has the time and the power to revoke Massey's permits. All that he needs is the will, and that's what we're here to give him.

This is directly copied from a Rising Tide North America email, the West Coast Convergence for Climate Action is rockin!

Check for photos at www.risingtidenorthamerica.org tomorrow!

At approximately 2 p.m. today two activists with the Convergence for Climate Action walked onto Portland, Oregon's Morrison Bridge and unfurled a banner protesting the Interstate 5 expansion known as the Columbia River Crossing. One activist suspended from the bridge and another locked himself to a gate leading to area where the banner was hung. The banner reads “Six more lanes equal more sick people – No I-5 Bridge Expansion.”

The bridge activists are supported by a politically charged street theater performance depicting the expanded bridge, cars, and bikes. Representatives of the Oil Enforcement Agency will be handing out tickets to passersby.

Activists were drawing attention to the proposed Interstate 5 expansion and Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project because of concerns about the climate impacts as well as the continued reliance on oil-based transportation infrastructure at a time when oil supplies are falling and prices are rising dramatically. Opponents of the project point out that the state of Oregon has stated a goal of reducing global warming pollution to at least 75% below 1990 levels, with transportation-caused global warming pollution responsible for 1/3 of regional global warming pollution. Public health advocates at the hearing point out that the I-5 freeway has already had a negative impact on the health of low-income communities and communities of color along the freeway and that increased driving would lead to further pollution. Finally, homeowners are up in arms about the possibility of their property being seized through imminent domain to make way for an expanded highway.

SEACers helped to plan & participated in this action - to everyone who planned and participated in this action, you're amazing!

Below is a snip from a post by Scott Parkin (the title's from his post too), to see the rest of the post, visit http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/30/actions-speak-louder-than-word...

"Actions spoke louder than words today as Blue Ridge Earth First! (BREF!) and Mountain Justice (MJ) blockaded Dominion’s Richmond Headquarters early this morning. The all-woman lock down team anchored a climber who hung off a suspension bridge in protest of the air permit awarded to the company’s proposed coal plant in St. Paul, Virginia last week. This blockade is another in a line of escalating actions against coal plants and mountaintop removal in Virginia."

Southeast Convergence for Climate Action

July 30 - August 5 Central VA

This summer, join people of all ages and backgrounds from throughout the southeast and beyond for the second annual Southeast Convergence for Climate Action. After the resounding success of last year's convergence we are excited to continue the struggle for climate justice in the southeast with an engaging week of workshops, strategizing, and direct action! This year's convergence will be hosted in Virginia where communities are fighting uranium mining, nuclear power, mountaintop removal coal mining, and new (as well as old) coal plants. Once again we will unite to fight the coal industry's stranglehold on our region while rejecting the deadly nuke industry's attempt to position themselves as the solution to the climate crisis.

The convergence is a place to strengthen our movement, network with new allies, and take action against dirty energy while working to build a sustainable world. Workshops will include: community organizing, direct action 101, debunking false solutions to climate change, blockades, sustainable living systems, media, disaster response, fighting nukes and coal, and much more. The convergence will culminate in an empowering action to show that the southeast is serious about tackling climate change.

In Virginia where the Climate Convergence will be held, Dominion Power is trying to expand a nuclear power plant near Richmond and construct a new dirty coal plant in the southwestern part of the state. Citizen action is amping up to fight Dominion's deadly plans on both fronts and the timing couldn't be better for you to join us! Check out this video from a recent action in which Blue Ridge Earth First! blockaded the company's corporate headquarters.

For more information check out: www.climateconvergence.org
Email: risingtide@mountainrebel.net

-Anti-oppression policy

On March 29th, Danny Chiotos (SEAC) and Vernon Haltom (Coal River Mountain Watch) educated a room full of grassroots Obama volunteers and staff on Mountaintop Removal and broader coal + green jobs issues. By the end of the event, more than half of the room was wearing SEAC buttons and left encouraged for more action!

Danny Chiotos Presenting:

OBAMA TAKE A PUBLIC STAND ON MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL - NO NEW PERMITS!!!

Miguel Mendez (on the right) sports a SEAC Sticker: